Chapter 649: Chapter 649: Refusing Marriage
"Just giving a hundred taels? This is about saving a life." Zhan Er felt that a life-saving grace should be repaid with life, how can it be settled with just a hundred taels of Silver.
Brother Cheng, "If Brother Zhan feels that a hundred taels of Silver is too little, then give a thousand taels of Gold instead."
Hmm, making you splurge, that will bankrupt you.
Zhan Er’s servant panicked and quickly advised Zhan Er on the side, "Young Master, though it’s about saving a life, He Dayuan’s family are from the countryside. Holding a thousand taels of Gold, I reckon it will be robbed by bullies before even warming up."
The servant was a clever one, thought for a bit, and said, "What rural farmers like most is land. Why not buy twenty mu of paddy fields for He Dayuan’s family? With these paddy fields, his family’s life will be worry-free for a lifetime, and can also be passed down to future generations. He Dayuan will surely be grateful to you."
Zhan Er, after listening, nodded, "What you said makes sense."
Then asked Brother Cheng, "What does Young Master Gu think?"
Brother Cheng, as long as Zhan Er doesn’t go to the village or visit his own house, anything is fine, quickly said, "This method is good, farmers cherish land, one mu of paddy field is valued more than life, Brother Zhan’s twenty mu of paddy fields are like repaying twenty lives to Uncle Dayuan."
Zhan Er was very pleased to hear this, "Since Young Master Gu also agrees, then buy the paddy fields for He Dayuan’s family."
Brother Cheng, worried that Zhan Er would deliver the land deed himself to the village, added, "Country folks are prone to envy, if Brother Zhan buys the land, he could give the deed to me, and I will deliver it on behalf of Brother Zhan to Uncle Dayuan."
After hearing this, Zhan Er immediately thanked him, "Many thanks to Young Master Gu, once the paddy fields are bought, I’ll leave this matter to you."
Brother Cheng, satisfied, smiled and spoke a few kind words, cheered up Zhan Er, and then went home with Da Tuan and Xiao Tuan.
Gu Dashan, seeing that Brother Cheng came home later than usual, after delivering dried tofu, drove the mule cart to pick him up. Hearing that Master Xia was ill, he quickly asked, "Is Master Xia alright?"
Although Xiao Yu and Good Brother An didn’t really like Master Xia and his wife, over the past three years, Master Xia and his wife had been very good to his family, not only providing excellent teaching to Brother Cheng but also helping Good Brother An advance a lot in his studies under Master Xia’s tutelage.
Scholar Shang said that with Good Brother An’s studies, next year, he was bound to pass the examination for Scholar, and might even become the top scorer.
Thus, Gu Dashan was very grateful to Master Xia and wanted to visit him, but was stopped by Brother Cheng, "Dad, it’s too late today. The teacher has already slept after taking the medicine, please visit him another day."
He had barely escaped from Xia Family’s house and didn’t want to go back, lest he was tangled up by Zhan Er again, which would make him want to cry.
Hearing this, Gu Dashan had no choice but to drive the mule cart back home.
Just after entering the home, Brother Cheng routinely asked, "Mom, has Big Brother come back?"
Mrs. Cui took off his thick book bag for him and handed him a bowl of soy milk: "Not yet."
Brother Cheng, unhappy to hear this, "Big Brother has been out for quite some time. If he doesn’t come back soon, I might even forget what Big Brother looks like?"
Gu Jinli laughed upon hearing this, "If you could forget his face after he’s gone for a month, then you’re either face-blind or demented."
Brother Cheng snorted, "Second Sister is making these strange jokes to tease me again."
Seeing she seemed quite happy, he asked again, "Did Second Sister get better? You seemed quite down this morning, and now you are teasing me?"
Gu Jinli paused, then replied, "I’ve always been very happy, never been upset."
Regarding Brother Qin, Gu Jinli felt that there was no need to stress too much about it, might as well wait for Brother Qin to come back.
And it seems Brother Qin didn’t want to press her; every time, he just hinted and never truly broke it out, never wanting to make her uncomfortable or pressured.
Ah, another good side of Brother Qin discovered.
Gu Jinli felt she was done for!
No, no, I must sleep with Silver tonight, so she can see the benefits of Silver and forget about Brother Qin.
"Time for dinner, today we have steamed pork with rice flour and pine mushroom chicken soup." Gu Jinxiu and Third Grandma brought the dishes to the dining hall, calling over Brother Cheng and the others.
Brother Cheng loves the soft and sticky steamed pork with rice flour. Hearing that it was being served, he hurried to the dining hall to help set the table.
Third Grandma shouted to Sister Li and the others: "Da Tuan, Xiao Tuan, Sister Li, Cha Hua, Xiao Ji, there are several servings of steamed pork in the kitchen, each of you take one home to eat and come back after you’re done."
Sister Li and a few others do not eat at Gu Jinli’s house, but every time there is delicious meat cooked at home, Third Grandma always prepares several portions for them to take home to eat, and come back later.
Among the servants, Sister Li and Xiao Ji live in the same courtyard as Gu Jinli’s sisters.
Sister Li is there to protect Gu Jinxiu.
As for Xiao Ji, Gu Jinli originally did not want her to come, but Mrs. Cui said she was getting old and still needed someone to accompany her, and now the family’s estate was too large, it was better to have more people living in it to prevent anyone from climbing over the walls.
Gu Jinli had no choice but to keep Xiao Ji and let her live in the room next to her own.
Xiao Tuan lives in the same courtyard as Gu Jincheng.
Da Tuan lives in the gatekeeper’s room next to the main gate, responsible for accompanying Brother Cheng to school during the day and guarding the gate at night.
Gu Jinli, unable to sleep last night because of Qin San Lang, originally wanted to go to sleep early after dinner tonight, but suddenly Xiao Min came to see her, asking her to visit the Qi Family.
Gu Jinli asked Xiao Min, "Is there something wrong with my cousin?"
Xiao Min is a maid of Qi Kangle, whose entire family was bought by Gu Daya. Now her parents and brother worked at Yanfu Building and the braised food shop, while she followed Qi Kangle. After hearing this, she said, "Yuan Family’s second son has arrived and is talking with our lady."
"Chang Errui has come?" Gu Jinli was startled and followed Xiao Min to the Qi Family.
At the Qi Family, Qi Kangping had already taken Mo Qinzi away.
The fewer people who know about Qi Kangle being sold to a brothel, the better.
Mo Qinzi was clever; although puzzled, she did not ask any questions, simply took a basket of braised food and went back to her mother’s house with Qi Kangping.
Xiao Min, instructed by Gu Daya, dropped Gu Jinli off at the main house where Gu Daya and her husband lived, then left and did not follow inside.
Qi Kangle’s matter was also not to be known by Xiao Min.
"Xiao Yu, you’re here." Gu Daya, seeing Gu Jinli, was very happy and hurriedly greeted her: "Hurry and persuade your cousin, she’s so stubborn. Brother Rui doesn’t mind at all, he wants to marry her, and yet she hesitates, it’s driving me mad!"
After Sister Le told Ms. Chang about being sold to Yingxian Square, Gu Daya thought the marriage between Sister Le and Chang Errui was over. However, Chang Errui, truly a good man, did not disdain her upon knowing the matter and still wanted to marry Sister Le.
He came over tonight to discuss this matter. Chang Errui declared that if Sister Le was willing, his family would send a matchmaker to propose marriage in a few days.
Yet Sister Le, for some unknown reason, refused to agree, infuriating Gu Daya to the point where she almost beat her with a stick.
Having no other choice, she thought of Gu Jinli and had Xiao Min call her over to persuade Qi Kangle.
Gu Jinli listened and looked towards the main house where Gu Daya and her husband lived.
Chang Errui and Qi Kangle were both kneeling on the ground.
Chang Errui looked helplessly at Qi Kangle, while Qi Kangle’s expression was resolute, her back straight, her gaze fixed ahead, refusing to look at Chang Errui.